Military blog

43rd Center for Combat Application and Training of Aircrew for Long Range Aviation

Photo report from 70th anniversary of foundation of 43rd Guards Orlovskiy Centre for Combat Application and Training of Aircrew for Long Range Aviation (43 TsBP i PLS), Dyagilevo airbase, Ryazan region.
The Centre was organized on September 18, 1940 as 1st School of Air Force navigators. The main objective of the Centre was to prepare the pilots, navigators, engineers and technicians, communication specialists and logistics officers for Long Range Aviation. There were massive changes in the organizational structure of the Centre in 2009. According to the new conception of Armed Forces of Russian Federation, 203rd Guards Air Refueling Regiment was joined with 43 Centre. Today 43 TsBP i PLS includes the following units: Center with combat and training squadrons, 203rd Air Refueling Regiment, 199th Aircraft commandant in Kamensk-Uralskiy city (providing flights support) and 1449 Airbase in Tambov city (aircrew training, providing cargo transport and airborne tasks).
The event was very interesting. Fully accessible IL-78M, Tu-95MS and Tu-22M3, Tu-134UBL Volga from Tambov, An-26, Mi-8MTand An-2. There were no restrictions on taking photos inside. Children spinning, turning, and pulled down almost everything they wanted. Flight crews were very friendly, open and readily talked about their aircrafts. Although the weather was cloudy and rainy, and the photos are quite dark, but still I had a good time there.